Rally Japan: Peugeot preview

Following its introduction to the WRC calendar in 2004, Rally Japan
will this year count towards the World Rally Championship for the
second year running. The thirteenth of the 2005 season's 16-round
series will also be the penultimate gravel ...

Following its introduction to the WRC calendar in 2004, Rally Japan
will this year count towards the World Rally Championship for the
second year running. The thirteenth of the 2005 season's 16-round
series will also be the penultimate gravel fixture of the year before
the closing round of the series in Australia. After being totally new
for all the WRC regulars last year, this recent addition to the
calendar features a number of detail changes this time round.

World class rallying underwent something of a mini-revolution in 2004
when, for the first time in its history, a round was programmed in
Japan. Astonishingly, the series had never previously been to the
land of the rising sun and its forays into Asia had until then been
limited to Indonesia and China. The terrain was therefore new for all
the teams.

This year's visit obviously marks less of a step into the unknown. As
in 2004, the event takes place on the most northerly of Japan's four
major islands, Hokkaido, while its nerve centre is based in Obihiro,
with all the stages organised to the north of this city. Last year,
the stages turned out to be very fast and not at all rough on the
cars, but they were also narrow and the slightest error proved
costly. The speeds reached put this fixture amongst the fastest of
the season.

Peugeot travels to the thirteenth round of the calendar in 2nd
position in the Manufacturers' championship, 20 points behinds its
sister marque Citroën which tops the provisional standings. With four
rounds remaining, and with a one-two finish worth a total of 18
points, the contest is still far from over, although Peugeot's
situation has become more difficult since Wales Rally GB. In the
chase for the Drivers' title, Marcus Grönholm is currently 3rd with a
score of 61 points. The Finn's objective will be to try to regain 2nd
place. Following his tragic accident on the final day of the recent
Wales Rally GB, Markko Märtin will not compete in next week's Rally
Japan. The second 307WRC will be driven by Daniel Carlsson.

Despite being unaccustomed to world class rallying, the Japanese
spectators turned out in large numbers to watch the sport's top crews
and an even bigger attendance is expected this year.

One of the principal unknowns relating to the Japanese round is the
weather which can be very unsettled at this time of year in this part
of the country, so getting tyre choices right will be particularly
crucial. Following Sardinia, Argentina and Finland, Japan also stands
out as the fourth event of the year for which just one type of tyre
pattern is authorised. With a modified route, tighter timing,
difficult tyre choices and unpredictable weather on the menu, the
2005 Rally Japan clearly has all the ingredients to be yet another
fiercely fought affair. And for Peugeot's drivers, the event will
understandably be a very emotional moment.